Chapter 35 - [THE HANGED MAN]
[THE HANGED MAN]
Chapter 35. [THE HANGED MAN]
“Hu-ha.”
Breath warmed inside body clashed with cold night air scattering as blurry mist.
Right now my consciousness wasn't on trash bags held in both hands but on Tarot deck inside pocket.
Felt reassured.
Walking on untidy road of daldongne, organized inside head calmly. Emotion like scary didn't occur at all.
In the first place, I possessed power to extent unreasonable to be called ordinary person already.
What I feared wasn't person but ‘Situation’. Situation where phenomenon of turning others into salt is revealed at unexpected moment.
Honestly speaking didn't have much impression on event of villain becoming salt itself. So couldn't say this situation right now is scary.
Me too, opponent too. At least point of not wanting to leave evidence would be same.
Just one thing.
There was something I really didn't like.
That is….
“Eut-cha.”
Putting down two heavy trash bags at trash collection point arrived before knowing it, I straightened waist and loosened body for a moment. After finishing short stretching, started walking daldongne alley again too naturally.
Darkness didn't retreat completely yet but eastern sky was lightening faintly.
Snow marks piled under streetlight and old cement wall revealed outline gradually, and life sense of alley hidden all night raised head one by one. Old boxes in front of closed supermarket, half-peeled poster, lingering sound of dog barking remaining in silence.
Human presence became fainter gradually.
Moving steps trace of maintenance became faint, and life force of nature was raising head in every crack of cracked concrete.
At end of such abandoned road.
I looked up at moderately sized skinny dry tree.
Remembered hearing word guardian deity of Baeksa Village briefly someday, but it was truly ambiguous appearance befitting guardian deity of daldongne.
Like 120-year-old ginkgo tree.
‘…For a tree isn't it not that old?’
So probably drying like this in corner of daldongne no one visits.
Trudge, trudge.
Staring at tree, footstep sound was heard from somewhere.
Turning body, bulky men came into view. One among them checking each other approached me and spoke.
“There, let me ask something. Correct you are person living here right?”
“Good. I also had words wanted to ask.”
Saying so I took hand out of pocket. Felt skin pulling tight in cold air.
“…Words wanted to ask?”
Man didn't stop steps even while tilting head. Looking around other men were also approaching slowly. As if surrounding me.
“What do you want to ask, huh…!”
Before words ended that man took out something from pocket and pounced suddenly.
I who pulled up dynamic visual acuity with power of Hermit talisman watched that appearance silently.
Thud!
Object like sponge hit my mouth. Subtly firm material so felt slight pain.
Seemed like object for absorbing sound but just in case stopped breathing, and looked up quietly at man trying to grab me.
Soon his arm wrapped around my body.
Then.
—Pazik!
Thick current popped and violent spark flashed.
Man's body shape crumbled down whitely. Clothes too, object like sponge blocking my mouth too together.
Steps of approaching men stopped simultaneously.
“Peub! Peu-beub!”
Shaking off salt on corner of mouth, I continued words intended to say.
“Why the hell do you guys live like that? Why causing harm to others?”
Among men numbering three, no one answered. Just looked alternately at me and white powder scattered at feet with eyes full of confusion.
“Y, you what…!?”
One guy shouted with face turned pale.
“That isn't answer to question.”
Muttering so I took out Tarot deck from pocket. Shuffled cards with relaxed hand movement, and picked three cards.
“Who would know most among you guys.”
Fear seemed transmitted just by that action. One guy stepped backward hesitatingly.
Staring straight at his face I checked one card.
[PAGE of SWORDS]
Page of Swords.
“You are newbie.”
“U, u-eu…!”
It was moment I tried to approach him striding.
“Ait! F*ck, screw her!”
Man beside popped out suddenly and flew kick.
I who already pulled up power of Hermit talisman stepped aside leisurely. And kicked his pivot foot accurately.
Thud!
“Uwak!”
“Keueok!”
Two men bumped into each other and rolled on floor.
Meanwhile, I checked remaining two cards.
[KNIGHT of SWORDS]
[KING of SWORDS]
Among these guy who rushed just now was one knowing most.
Rest wasn't needed. As soon as judgment stood I rushed to him standing blankly alone.
“U, uaaaa!”
He retreated with eyes full of confusion and swung fist in clumsy posture. I tilted head slightly letting attack flow and snatched his arm.
“Let go of this aaah!”
And threw body loading running inertia as is.
Thud!
Balance collapsed simultaneously with collision.
“Uaaaa!”
Terrified man struggled to push me away.
Ability operates even touching over clothes. Just there is delay of few seconds.
Unless clothes are thick like shoe sole….
—Pajijik!
Already late.
Paseuseuseu.
I shook off salt on clothes and raised body. And met eyes with guy who raised body just in time.
“…Just what is your identity?”
“Can't you just live kindly?”
Since he says only what he wants to say I also left only words I wanted to say. And moved steps striding again.
Due to collision just now became position where have to pass me to escape alley. He who kept stepping backward was eventually driven to dead end.
“S, save me….”
Newbie whom Page of Swords came out couldn't even stand up with legs loosened. How can oppose opponent who kills just by touching. His pants got wet and urine leaked out.
Crunch!
“Aack!”
I stomped on newbie’s leg. Like extinguishing cigarette, crushed slowly with heel.
“Kkeu-euk…!”
He grabbed my leg but didn't turn into salt. Probably extreme fear washed away malice.
As if not interested in such thing fixed gaze on action leader.
“Jang Su-tae.”
“…! H, how…!”
As called name his eyes grew big as if popping out.
As result of seeing briefly with Tarot these were lives not worth keeping alive. I glared at him with emotionless eyes and said.
“Spill everything you know about Kang Man-dae.”
“…!”
Kang Man-dae.
Name of guy who instructed to bring me. Young president operating waste treatment company in Nowon-gu.
Since didn't divine targeting him directly wasn't accurate, but just looking at these guys’ tracks it was clear he is human with worse quality than decent gangster.
Right now all guys who came here were those who killed people or at least participated in it.
“Why no words?”
Jang Su-tae was shutting mouth firmly. While clearly feeling fear in front of unknown existence turning person into white powder.
Annoyance surged.
I crushed newbie’s leg strongly enough to break bone.
“Aaaack! This f*ck-”
—Pajeujeuk!
Before curse ended his body shape crumbled down whitely. Salt scattered like smoke.
Jabak. Jabak.
Now left alone.
I approached slowly glaring at him straight.
“I. Am. Asking. Now. About Kang Man-dae.”
He eventually knelt, and bowed head as if planting on floor.
“S, save me.”
“Gonna kill if don't talk?”
“If talk I die.”
“Said die even if don't talk?”
“…Then rather die by you. That side… looks less painful at least.”
I stopped walking for a moment.
Whether saw hope there, I clearly saw Jang Su-tae's face brightening very briefly.
“….”
Instant anger surged up.
—Why has the world become this distorted.
Just by reading Jang Su-tae, this bastard’s tracks briefly, five or six faces of victims whose lives fell into abyss came to mind.
—Ugly one sleeps peacefully on bed of sin, and innocent one burns night making worry a pillow.
Subject like that, now coming here worrying about own safety dares to make deal with me?
Criminal bastard not knowing own place?
—Ah ah, if this is order justice is already standing upside down. Has world been inverted already.
Couldn't forgive at all.
Fact itself that such ones are living same world with me wasn't accepted.
—However fortunately, there is power in my hand. Power to pierce evil, and salvage good.
So.
All such guys….
All from this world…!
—Perhaps if this is, order descended amidst silence of God….
…No, wait.
‘Wait a moment.’
Realizing thinking is leaning to strange direction I tilted head slightly.
Only then heard.
—If it is revelation to destroy all evil, and overturn inverted world again….
‘Just what is this narration since earlier.’
Jang Su-tae in front of eyes was still kneeling quietly. Seemed no sound was heard to him.
—I shall not refuse that will.
Only then knew.
Fact that this theatrical voice….
Is ringing behind my back, and slightly above.
—If world cannot stand upright, I shall become that axis and make it stand upright.
I turned my head.
There.
Was a man hanging upside down on branch of 120-year-old ginkgo tree.
[THE HANGED MAN]
He was hanging with one ankle tied to thick and rough ginkgo branch, in posture where twisted foot reminded of cross.
Two hands were tied loosely behind back, and head drooping down….
However on face strange peace dwelled instead of pain.
Radiance like moonlight seeped between hair was wrapping around his head like faint halo.
Eyes met.
—Oh oh, friend. Time has come to overturn this inverted world again. Are you ready?
Man said so and extended hand to me as if gravity is meaningless. In that process string tied loosely unraveled seureureuk and fell.
I looked at that hand for a moment, then shook my head.
‘There is saying burning cottage trying to catch bedbug. Just because there are such guys doesn't mean whole world is wrong. In the first place aren't you bound to see everything inverted? Well, because hanging upside down.’
Then.
—Indeed wise. Possess insight not clouded even inside ugly world.
Hanged Man nodded as if satisfied. And extended hand held out, and grabbed my hand.
He led my hand and took over Tarot deck. We picked one card, overlapping hands.
—However. Please remember that sometimes looking by reversing direction is also necessary thing.
Ending with those words Hanged Man’s Arcana disappeared as if seeping into shadow of ginkgo tree.
I looked down at card left in hand.
[THE MOON]
Moon.
—Reversed.
At that moment.
I realized naturally what I became able to do more.
“…Scared of dying?”
Is it because of that.
Words came out from me harbored calmer atmosphere than before.
Nevertheless Jang Su-tae couldn't raise head kneeling. Cold sweat flowed down forehead.
“…Where would be person who isn't?”
Was answer as if squeezed out.
“Right…. Usually so.”
I nodded.
“Then, after dying?”
Jang Su-tae's shoulder flinched.
“Such thing… I don't believe. End if die.”
“So means fear pain to suffer in process more than death.”
“….”
He didn't deny.
I continued words with more gloomy voice.
“But you saw me. Saw person become powder and die just by touching me.”
“…!”
Jijijik.
I rubbed floor with shoe tip. Sound of salt particles rubbing leaked out.
“Is this science?”
Jang Su-tae couldn't answer.
“Doesn't matter whether you believe or not.”
My gaze pierced him.
“Just let’s make this one thing clear. Thing happened in this spot right now, wasn't matter of world you knew in the first place.”
Jang Su-tae's lips closed firmly.
“Ask again. Still think there will be no afterlife?”
“….”
Silence.
Whether do or not I continued words.
“Seems scared of Kang Man-dae's retaliation. I’ll let you know that what you should really fear right now isn't just such thing.”
“…! …!”
Jang Su-tae's breath became rough.
“Sin you piled up until now, try facing once.”
“W, wait…!”
I lifted card held in hand. Reversed Moon.
Card inside that hand….
Sakak, crumbled.
—Pajik!
Short and sharp spark popped between fragments scattering whitely.
“Uak!”
Jang Su-tae screamed crawling backward instinctively. Covering face with hands, breathing roughly trembled body as if half seizing.
“D, don't do it! Don't do it I said!”
I didn't say anything. Just looking down at him.
It was then.
Dawn was breaking.
Jang Su-tae suddenly realized shadow cast long on floor was strange. It was tree’s shadow.
‘Wh, what…!’
End of December.
Tree where only skinny branches remained.
But right now that shadow was too bizarre.
Seemed as if something like seaweed swaying in water was swarming and hanging.
Jang Su-tae slowly.
Very slowly raised head.
And saw.
“…!!!”
Hanging like fruits on branches of tree….
Faces of people.
Turning back to rising sun, faces submerged in shade were shaking fluttering hair as if this place is inside water.
Someone was crying, someone was grinding teeth and angry, someone was shouting something violently enough for facial muscles to stand out.
Sound wasn't heard. But were speaking clearly.
He recognized.
All, were faces remained in one corner of his memory.
“…Ah—”
Sound like breath cutting off leaked out.
But soon.
Moment sun rose completely and world became bright, all that spectacle disappeared without trace as if it was dream.
“Choose.”
I said looking down at him with head tilted a little.
“Reveal everything about Kang Man-dae. And run away avoiding him. Struggle saying will cut down price of sin even a little somehow.”
“….”
Brief silence.
I lowered eyes, and continued words very quietly.
“If dislike that… just say dislike.”
Gaze headed to him again.
“Then right now immediately. Will send you to that place you just saw.”
